Did you know that roughly four evictions are filed every minute? While some evictions are straightforward (like when someone on a lease doesn’t pay rent), others fall into a legal grey area.
Case and point: squatters. Squatters are individuals that live on a piece of property unlawfully. However, despite this fact, the issue isn’t a criminal offence, but rather a civil one.
That reality is that squatters have rights in all fifty states, including Florida. But what exactly do these rights include? And is it possible to evict them?
If you want to learn the answer to these questions, then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll give you a crash course of squatter’s rights in Flordia. Let’s get started!
What Rights Do Squatters Have In Florida?
Squatters in Florida have the right to claim a property (typically one that’s been abandoned for some time) if they’ve been living in it for a continuous period.
Once this period (which is seven years) has been reached, then they can file for a claim. Once they do this they are no longer criminals trespassing. They now have the legal authority to continue occupancy.
So, what conditions need to be met for them to lay possession claim to the property? We already mentioned that they need to be living there for at least seven years. On top of that they need to meet these four other qualifications:
- Hostile claim – awareness or lack of awareness that they’re on someone’s property
- Actual possession – the individual must live in the property and treat it
- Exclusive possession – the individual isn’t sharing the property with others
- Open and notorious – the individual can’t hide the fact that they’re living on the property
If all of these conditions are met, then the squatter has a possession claim on your property.
How Do You Remove Squatters?
To remove squatter the next step is to file an unlawful detainer lawsuit. And, to do this, you will need to provide the squatter with an eviction notice. There are three types of eviction notices in Florida:
- Seven-day unconditional quit notice
- Three-day notice to quit or pay
- Seve-day notice to cure
The right type of eviction depends on the specific circumstances of your situation. So, make sure to check out this guide for some of the common reasons for eviction.
Want More Content? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you learn more about squatters in Florida. Most of the time, a qualified legal team is all that you need to properly deal with squatters.
But, in some cases, their right to the property might supersede your own. As such, you should consult with a lawyer today to see where you stand.
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